The Washington critic., 1887-08-11
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

TOPICS OF THE DAY.
The Government Hospital for the In.
sane is called "St. Elizabeth's, :" and a |
more beautiful spot could hardly be |
found upon this continent, says the |
Boston Trdrellor's correspondent. All |
of the insane people who cannot be |
properly charged up to the various |
States are taken there and cared for. |
Within the past ten years 1t has be-
come favortc eXpedient for men ac-
cused of grave crimes against the laws
of the Federal Government, involving
terms of long Imprisonment, or posi-
bly, death, TO try the insanity dodge"
In many cases this has succeeded, and
the culprits being pronounced sane
were In few years set at liberty. 1t
has occurred to the officials that there
ought to be some way to stop this
abuse, and they have hit upon very
happy idea which Is likely to be a sue.
built with narrow, comfortless cells into
which these convicts will be placed as
soon as the physicians are satisfied that
they are not insane. BY these means
classification of the inmates will be
brought about. The men tried for
grave offenses, and who plead insanity
as an excuse for their guilt will not
find bed of roses when they strike
st. EliZabelh's in the future. They
will be introduced to regular prison
with the disadvantage that there will
be no "good.time allowance" 1t is
thought that the experiment will
largely decrease this class of inmates.
a'a
The profits on the retail sale of beer
and soda water are not as large as they
are commonly supposed to be, says the
New York Graphic. Wiseacres are
often heard descanting on the tremen.
dous returns which they say 60 into
the pockets Of the dispensers of beer or
soda, as they lean upon the druggists
counter or hold up the bar Of some 50.
loon. They know but little concern
ing the subject, as Is evident from the
fact that they place the net gains at
from 800 to 600 per cent, usually as.
seriing that each glass of soda or beer
costs one cent and is sold for five times
that amount. AS matter OF fact, a
five cent glass of soda costs the average
druggist or confectioner between two
and three cents. while ten cent glass
costs as much in proportion, because
the glass is larger and the havoring
syrup of finet quality. There arc a
few exceptions, where the bust.
ness Is conducted on large scale, and
Vhnrn thn nrnfitq ppnliiprohlv
greater; but this fact does not change
the general rule that the net gains
from the sale of soda water are less
than 100 per cent. AS for beer. the
saloon keeper buys 1t from brewer at
$40 barrel, four kegs being equIva.
lent to barrel. He expects to get 100
glasses from keg, or 400 from bar.
rel, at five cents glass-this does not
apply TO Coney Island glasses, any
number of which can be drawn appar-
emily from single keg, according to
the demand-which means SEQ, or only
100 per cent. profit. Therefore. II is
evident that although the selling of
beer and soda water can be made
highly profitable occupation, the Pc
cuniary results are not nearly so great
as most people suppose
W.
Fuller Walker, the Kansas City
Journals correspondent, hears that at
the coming session of Congress, Sena'
tor Blair has promised to introduce a
bill, which prominent citizen of
Washington has drawn up, which
provides for a uniform series of text
books for the District of Columbia,
and for other schools in the territories
of the United States, 1t is proposed to
have committee of competent men
edit, or write the text books, and have
them carefully brought up TO the
present state of knowledge, so far as Is
necessary for common school books,
and have them tell the truth as regards
the facts of our own history. AS mat
ters now are, there is no uniformity of
text books, not even In single State.
The constant changing is nuisance as
well as unnecessary expense. Besides
any unauthorized individual or house
can issue book and induce the
School Commissioners TO adopt 1t.
What is wanted is something
with the seal OF authority upon
il which all men may know.
~ VIII ulso VIC plupustu w puilllt
the Government to publish these books
and supply them nj a slight advance
upon cost, This will undoubtedly be-
come law, and good example will
be set in high place. The chances
are many States will adopt the series
of United States text books and pur'
chase of the Government, or publish on
their own account. A great howl will
undoubtedly 20 up from the big school
hook publishing houses of Chicago,
Cincinnati, New York, Boston aud
Philadelphia, and shall expect to see